What We Could Be

by Lily Baines

The rules are no feelings, no strings. But rules were made to be broken. And broken things hurt.

As the owner of the Coral Bay Inn, I’ve built myself an uncomplicated small-beach-town life. Men? friends with benefits, no strings—the safest way to guard my heart.

But Sebastian Sawyer isn’t just any guy. He’s been there from the start—before I had cheekbones, before my skin cleared. Before I turned heads. We were each other’s first everything. Now that long-ago geeky boy has muscles that belong on an action figure and a calm that’s hard to shake.

Our long-tenured no-strings arrangement is perfect. But perfect things don’t last.

When the inn needs repairs, Sebastian moves in to help. Spending our days and nights together shatters the balance and complicates everything. Sebastian wants forever—an F-word that scares me as much as feelings—so I safeguard my heart before his rewrites everything I swore against.

Yet my foolish heart insists on following my body’s lead. Because forever with Sebastian could be perfect … but if forever breaks, so will I.

What We Could Be is a dual pov, small-town romance, with the perfect mix of angst, banter, and heat.

Genres: Romance

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2026

About the author

Lily Baines is a mother, wife, and author, and the order to this changes depending on the day. For 20 years she has worked in Human Resources, mostly in the high-tech industry, but kept writing to maintain her sanity and flow of creative juices. Lily is dedicating her time to her 3 children, husband, family dog, bottomless laundry basket, full kitchen sink, and her writing.

Lets connect :)
amazon.com/author/lilybaines
https://www.lilybaines.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lilybainesau...

Bonus chapters await here: https://www.lilybaines.com/

Reviews

[ItaPixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t tell you how much I loved this book. What We Could Be is such a good story, there wasn't any dull moment.

Lily Baines takes us on the California coast, in the small town of Coral Bay, where we meet new characters, and some of the old ones also make an appearance.

Ruby is the proud owner of the Coral Bay Inn that, after a storm, needs some renovations, fortunately Sebastian, her friend with benefits engeneer, is in town and he is willing to help her. Won't be easy for Ruby to protect her heart working next to Sebastian every day and sleep with him every night. Will these new circumstances change their relationship?

I loved Sebastian right away, he is just so patient gentle and sympathetic, as well as handsome. Ruby is witty smart strong and beautiful, but her stubberness got on my nerves at times. They are compatible and their intercourse are very spicy, they are cute while they try to not catch feelings for each other. Ruby dificulties to embrace a future dfferent from that she has planned, and to understand her value really touched me. At the end I cared for these characters a whole lot and I wished for their HEA.

I came to expect an emotional journey from this author, but this book also has a good storyline, characters growth and a picturesque setting.

Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian Sawyer is the definition of a golden-heart hero—equal parts protector, best friend, and perfectly attuned emotional anchor. His long-standing friendship and friends-with-benefits relationship with Ruby Locke adds so much depth, made even richer by glimpses into their shared past from both perspectives. Their history matters, and you can feel it on every page.

I connected deeply with Ruby. Her struggle with feeling like “too much” felt incredibly real, and I loved watching her surrounded by a supportive found family (I desperately need their stories next). The way Sebastian understands Ruby, without pushing her before she’s ready, shows just how much he cares about protecting her heart.

While the spice is great, it’s the slow-burn angst and emotional intimacy that truly hit home. This story is about letting someone help carry your burdens, taking emotional risks, and discovering that love might already be hiding in plain sight.

A beautiful, emotional start to the Coral Bay series, Lily Baines is officially an auto-read author for me.

[reader_dreamer_4life · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Could Be by Lily Baines is officially a Sebastian appreciation post.

Sebastian is everything. Gentle, patient, emotionally open, and so painfully devoted it hurts. The way he loves Ruby — quietly, consistently, without pressure — had me melting and breaking at the same time.
This friends-to-lovers romance hits even harder because they’ve known each other since childhood. He loves Ruby not just as the woman she is now, but as the girl he grew up with, the constant in his life, his safest place. Absolute book-boyfriend perfection. This Man!

So….. I can’t deny… Ruby definitely tested my patience, but when it finally clicks for her? Oh My Heart!
Watching her realise that this beautiful man — her best friend, her safe space, her constant — is actually her forever made every moment of frustration worth it. The emotional roller coaster was worth it.

While Ruby wrestled with fear and doubt, Sebastian gave her space, understanding, and unwavering support. The ANGST hit hard in these moments — his heart was fully in it but could he wait to until hers was?The yearning? aaahhhhh

Yay for special appearances…. I loved how they stepped in and give Ruby some perfectly timed advice and gentle truths.

What We Could Be is an emotional story that is overflowing with longing. Come for the childhood friends-to-lovers slow burn, stay for the angst, and fall hopelessly in love with Sebastian — because I absolutely did.

A wonderful start to a new series. Can’t wait for more.

[World Of Books 65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt friends-with-benefits romance that asks not just what we could be… but what we should be and who we’re meant to become.

Lily Baines launches her new Coral Bay series with the emotional depth and authenticity her readers have come to expect. What We Could Be is a friends-with-benefits, forced-proximity romance wrapped in small-town charm—but as this story unfolds, it becomes clear that what we could be slowly turns into what we should be, and ultimately what we are meant to be.

Sawyer and Ruby have been best friends for years, with a carefully negotiated “with benefits” arrangement that works—especially for Ruby, who has mastered the art of guarding her heart. But when renovations mean Sawyer not only steps in to help but also ends up staying at the inn, those carefully drawn lines start to blur. Suddenly they’re sharing mornings, days, and nights, and the sizzling chemistry that’s always simmered beneath the surface is ready to ignite.

What Lily Baines does best is write adults who feel real—emotionally layered, flawed, and instantly relatable. Watching Sawyer realise that his feelings run far deeper than friendship is beautifully done, while Ruby’s internal struggle between safety and surrender adds genuine emotional weight. With sharp banter, a delicious slow burn, and just enough heat to keep the tension crackling, this story hits all the right notes.

What We Could Be is the perfect opening to the Coral Bay series—heartfelt, emotionally rich, and quietly powerful. A reminder that sometimes the love we’re afraid to reach for is exactly the love we were always meant to claim.

[Sarah (lou_reads_romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟

Exasperating!….. one word that could be used to describe Ruby, but for me she is a wonderful character. I love her individuality, her bluntness, her humour…she’s the kind of person I’d be drawn to as a friend. She’s also extremely guarded, cautious and deeply hurt by the continuous verbal vitriol from her mum over the years. I couldn’t blame her for her freak out, I could totally relate!

Sebastian is absolutely perfect…. I loved him and would like to keep him please? He’s such a genuine guy, he loves Ruby deeply, first as a friend through all their teenage awkwardness and then as an adult. He admires her and encourages her strength and outspokenness.
What he also does is bring calm to her storm, quietly commanding control to her disorder and gentle humour that made me smile and love him even more!

I really enjoyed the little snippets of their high school days and how their bond grew. Their geekiness and teenage ‘ugly duckling’ phase. It was so easy to believe their love.

Another beautiful observation of human hearts, fears and love from Ms Baines. She has a remarkable gift of making what could have been quite a simple story into something truly heartfelt and heartwarming. Her friendships and characters are believable and relatable. I can’t wait to get back to Coral Bay for Evangeline’s story!

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Coral Bay, a small coastal town in California. Ruby has found herself the owner of the Coral Bay Inn, which needs some TLC to restore after a storm. Thank God for Sebastian, her best friend (with benefits), who just happens to be an engineer. With the renovations underway, Sebastian and Ruby are forced together (days together, nights together....) and the passion and chemistry between them bubbles to the surface.

I loved Ruby because her feelings of herself/in a relationship are the same feelings I have and struggle with. Her anxieties and fears were also relatable. Sebastian balanced her out so well with his calm, patient nature. Sebastian gave her space when she needed it, backed off when she needed him to, supported her in all things. You can absolutely tell he cares deeply for her.

I loved the emotional rollercoaster of the story, not just because I love a good, emotional story, but because it felt REAL, like not too Hallmark-y and actually like this is something that happens to real people.

I devoured this and am counting down the days until book 2. Thank you to Happily Booked PR and the author for an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Brittany Hayley Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished What we could be by Lily Baines book 1 of Coral Bay series. It follows Ruby, an Inn owner in a small coastal town of Coral Bay. She grew up thinking and believing her father left because of her, and her mother never letting her forget it. She meets Sebastian in high school they are best friends and became friends with benefits. Ruby had always declared she wanted no strings attached with anyone. To save her heart from being left behind again if she was to much. She loved the agreement. So when her inn needed renovations her best friend with benefits came to help her. Sebastian he was super smart in high school he was the nerd type. He left the town to move to Texas to work for NASA as an engineer. So he went back to help Ruby with the construction of her inn. As their time together Sebastian told Ruby he wanted more and that he was in love with her. Ruby didn’t handle that well.. so Sebastian went back to Texas. Both heartbroken Ruby finally admits to her friends she’s in love with him. So will Ruby finally tell Sebastian how she feels or is it too late? This was my 1st book I’ve read from this author and it was well written the story flowed in a natural way. The spice was good not a lot of details but still good. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Stephanie Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby and Sebastian are so perfect together and I loved everything about Sebastian. Ruby and Sebastian have been friends since they were teenagers, Sebastian now lives in Texas and Ruby lives in California and Ruby works at an inn but during a storm her inn gets damaged. Sebastian comes to California to help Ruby with the inn. Sebastian finally tells Ruby about his feelings for her and after some time Ruby realizes she feels the same way. If your looking for a friends to lovers, its always been you and forced proximity then this book is for you. Thank You Lily and Happily Booked PR for letting me be part of this ARC.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Movie please! We need this as a movie! Ruby and Sebastian were absolutely wonderful. Their relationship was absolutely beautiful. The tension and angst between these two was tugged at my heart.. these are the type that make for the best relationships. I was so engaged in this book. I truly didn’t want it to end. The emotions were heart tugging.
The eyes just jump off the page with this one and settle in your heart. So wonderfully written.

[ES · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh!!!!!! This book is perfection.

Sebastian and Ruby's connection is unmatched. I love that Seb knows Ruby so wholly and is so willing to meet her where she is at. Not forcing her to choose but holding space for her to discover what she wants and needs.

The ending was beautiful!

I love that this book read like a story of an actual couple's relationship. No unnecessary dramatics or a nice bow at the end of the story to tie everything together.

This book had feelings and discovery and yeah its messy but its real and its relatable and most importantly beautiful.

Such a captivating read, highly recommend this book!!!

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seb and Ruby's connection is perfection. Long time friends with benefits, but a slow burn fall for each other. Ruby is scared to let someone in and have any feelings that could hurt her, so prefers to keep things casual, and for a while that approach has worked for Seb too. But as they work together helping save Ruby's business, the lines blur and Seb admits he wants everything with Ruby.
It's a sweet journey of love, it's messy and relatable, and very wholesome. Seb doesn't push or give ultimatums, he puts his heart out there and gives Ruby the time to figure out her heart. There's limited drama, supportive groups of friends, and genuine feelings and connection. Loved the balance of romance and spice.

[Candace Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that will have you wanting to kick the fmc. It's a slow burn with a twist. The physical contact is there, but it's the emotional that is the epic slow-burn... It's a different kind of angst. The spice was there, some detailed, some fast paced and implied, but still spicy! I love the flip of the roles of the fmc and the mmc. The fmc is emotionally unavailable while the mmc is giving it his all. I felt like I was going to burst by the time Ruby figured her crap out! But it was very much worth the wait. This was a well-written, fully immersive, real world set book. And I loved every single aching second of it. ⭐️- 6/5 🌶3.5/5

[Lesa Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian and Ruby are childhood friends. As adults they’re friends with benefits. For me this isn’t a who falls first book it’s a who realizes the feelings are deeper first. The answer- he does. The spice is open door and steamy. Ruby needing to renovate and him being there to help gives them forced proximity’s they just needed Ruby to realize the feelings where more than friends.

I loved this story I just wish it was a bit longer but it is still a great story.

[Lara Loves Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small town contemporary romance was the perfect read to change things up for me. I could not love the two MMCs or the Coral Bay setting more, and the story gave me all the feels.

Ruby’s independent and confident nature are exemplified through her successful management of the Inn, and I loved this FMC with all the hardened edges she created to protect herself. Sebastian is a yummy cinnamon roll MMC. His patience and deep understanding of Ruby won my heart from the start, and when he steps in to help her with renovations on the Inn, the banter and angst that follows created the perfect tension, suspense and humor for the plot. A supportive group of friends round out a warm and supportive atmosphere creating a homey setting.

This friends to lovers novel was paced well and the spice (which was 🔥) was used to further the relationship. If you are looking for a cozy character driven contemporary romance set in a small CA beach town that will capture your heart, add this to your TBR!


Thank you to the author and Happily Booked PR for the early copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building More

Sebastian and Ruby's friendship was a beautiful connection and their support for one another deeply forming. As her need for help with the Inn brings him back to help the depth of their relationship builds from lovers to more. I loved how well these two work together despite her emotional walls. It was well written and the character growth drove this story forward. I could not put it down.

I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Kassie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well done, it gives off People We Meet On Vacation vibes in THE BEST WAY!

Sebastian and Ruby being lifelong best friends and FWBnis the perfect kindling for friends to lovers.

Watching Seb admit his feelings out loud first and admit he can't be casual with her was such beautiful male EQ. Ruby coming around and realizing she's loved him for so long was so good.

There isn't a lot of surprising things that happen in here but it's just a really good romance with lovable characters.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rules are simple: no feelings, no strings. But rules were made to be broken. And broken things hurt.

What We Could Be is a dual pov, small-town romance, with the perfect mix of angst, banter, and heat.
Good book it’s part of the coral bay series

[Edwina Velasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends with benefits, he falls first or does she secretly an not know how to handle her feelings?
Best friends can turn into real relationships but the scary part is will it work or does it ruin what you already have?

[Bookish Venturess · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great romance. I loved the fact that they have been together for so long. The amount of love he had for her was so good. I love a good ending and this one had it.

[Rebecca Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the cutest small town romance book. I was hooked right from the start. I love the storyline and all the characters and how well this was written

[Megan Key-Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey! Ruby and Sebastian have known each other forever a very long time. They think they have it all figured out, but news flash, they really don’t! This story allows for a glimpse into seeing how relationships can change over time and the strength it takes to respond to those changes. It was a privilege to be along for the ride!

[Holly Towe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good read!!! Ruby was so agents monogamy, she didn’t love anyone and swore to never go down that road. While Sebastian, her dorky best friend from high school came back into her life. This was a great slow burn with plenty of smut. The plot was written well and was overall well written! Love it!

[Lark _thebookchamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! I love the setting of Coral Bay and how cozy everything seems! Ruby is such a strong, independent character and Sebastian is such a gentle, kind MMC! I loved how patient he is with Ruby, knowing that although he wants more, she’s not ready yet. Their friends with benefits relationship has been there for years but seeing them both (Ruby a lot more slowly) admit to themselves that they want more was so lovely to see! I adored the side characters as well and I can’t wait to see what’s next in Coral Bay! 💖

[Brett Tourscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh Sebastian and Ruby were absolutely perfect!! The story made me laugh and cry and gush out loud! Sebastian is 100% my new book boyfriend!

There wasn’t a dull moment — I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Kealyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Could Be by Lily Baines

5/5 stars

Lily Baines truly outdid herself with What We Could Be. This is by far my favorite book she has ever written. It had heart, hurt, love, hope, trust, support, joy, encouragement, understanding and so much patience. Ruby and Sebastian stole my heart and soul. And I think I fell in love with Sebastian myself. How he cares for Ruby, how he understands her.. just.. pure, pure love.

Ruby and Sebastian have been childhood friends and have been friends with benefits for more than 10 years. Ruby is afraid of truly opening up her heart. Her parents got divorced, and together with other experiences she decided to close off her heart completely for love and thus disappointment. She runs an inn for her aunt and takes a lot of pride in that. But the inn is in bad shape and in desperate need of reparations.

Sebastian is a structural engineer for NASA and when he finds out Ruby needs help he goes straight to the inn to help her out. Things are so complicated that for the first time he is staying for a longer period of time with Ruby. And that is exactly what this gorgeous book is about.

For years and years they hooked up and each went their way, but lately they have been spending a night here and there together. But nothing more than that. They share a chemistry that is off the charts and they ravage each other more intensely each and every single hook-up. And now that he is staying near her, domestication starts to slip in their lives. Sebastian is falling so hard and Ruby gets scared by thoughts of wanting to claim him for herself.

I don't want to spoil too much. But something happens and everything suddenly changes. No nasty third act break-up or anything of the sort. Just a moment that alters both their lives forever.

This book isn't only a love story. It's also a homage and testament to friendship and it shows what true friendship actually is. It shows us what support is. What kindness is. What being there for your friend truly does for another person. Same goes for Sebastian. How he cares for Ruby was just out of this world. He truly understands her needs and doesn't push her whatsoever. He isn't forcing ideas, himself or actions upon her. He truly sees and invisions the path she needs to take and he is just there for her. Her gentle but solid rock in any storm.

I love how genuine it all felt. How truthful and beautiful.

And one of my favorite book quotes? This beauty:

There was something in the way she touched me, the way her eyes held mine-like we weren't just in each other's bodies, but in each other's bloodstream, too.

Lily, this is your best book so far! 5 huge stars from me for What We Could Be!

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

What We Could Be is the first book in Baines' new Coral Bay series. This small town, ugly duckling, friends with benefits romance features Ruby Locke and Sebastian Sawyer.

Ruby lives in and manages the Coral Bay Inn in California. Sebastian is an engineer who works for NASA in Houston. The two were friends in school but lost track of each other for a few years. When they saw each other again, even though both had profoundly changed, there was instant recognition, and attraction. Neither was looking for a relationship and started what became a long term friends with benefits situationship. Whenever Sebastian returned home to visit his family, he would come to Coral Bay and see Ruby. This satisfied them both, until it didn't.

Ruby had always been somewhat of an acquired taste. She was known for being blunt and forever speaking her mind. Since she was a child, Ruby's mother blamed her for her father leaving them. For her whole life, Ruby had been told she's too much, and so she believes it. She knows that people always leave so there's no point in having a monogamous relationship. It is best for both her and her partner that there are never feelings involved and the focus remaining on sexual satisfaction, something she gets in droves with Sebastian.

When the Coral Bay Inn needs some repairs, Sebastian ends up volunteering his expertise as an engineer and for the first time spends an extended amount of time with Ruby. He starts to think about his future and that like his friends who are finding their person and settling down, he may want that too. Even though they live far apart, Ruby is his first choice, his only choice. He knows he loves her and wants her to be his forever but also knows Ruby well enough to know that suggesting anything of the sort would spook her. He needs to tread carefully or risk losing her.

This was a sweet love story. While I couldn't relate to Ruby's trauma, I could understand her desire to protect her heart. I loved how sweet, thoughtful and caring Sebastian was. The man was beyond considerate of Ruby and respectful of her wants and needs. I appreciated how the author incorporated a strong, fierce group of supportive and loving friends around Ruby, something she definitely needed. It was also fun to get to know them a little as I feel that the other books in this series will center around this amazing group of women. I'll definitely be watching to see what book will be released next by this author.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wrecked me in the quietest, most intimate way. What We Could Be is the kind of romance that slides under your skin and settles there, equal parts comfort and ache, until you’re thinking about it hours after you close the book.

Friends with benefits is supposed to be easy. No feelings, no strings, no future-shaped words allowed. And Lily Baines takes that fragile little rulebook and slowly, lovingly shreds it. Because when your “no-strings” guy is also your first love, your safest place, and the one person who knows who you were before the glow-up, the rules never stood a chance.

Sebastian Sawyer. That’s it. That’s the sentence. Calm, steady, quietly devoted, and so painfully sure of what he wants. His love isn’t loud or pushy, it’s patient and constant, and watching him want forever while being willing to wait absolutely broke me. He doesn’t just love her body, he loves her history, her fear, her mess, and every version of her that came before.

And Ruby. She felt so real it hurt. Guarded, self-aware, terrified of wanting something that could destroy her if it falls apart. Her fear of the F-word isn’t dramatic, it’s earned. The push and pull between her heart and her instincts felt raw and honest, like reading someone’s private thoughts they never meant to say out loud.

The forced proximity with Sebastian moving in? Perfection. Shared space, late nights, tension humming under every interaction. The banter sparkles, the chemistry smolders, and the emotional stakes just keep climbing. You can feel the moment when “this is working” turns into “this is dangerous,” and I loved how inevitable it all felt.

This story understands that love isn’t just about finding the right person, it’s about believing you’re brave enough to keep them. It’s about choosing vulnerability even when it terrifies you. And that final emotional stretch? My heart was in my throat.

What We Could Be is small-town romance done right. Tender, angsty, sexy without being over-the-top, and emotionally satisfying in that deep, soul-settling way. If you love second chances, friends-to-lovers with history, and romances that feel lived-in and sincere, this one deserves a permanent spot on your shelf. 💔❤️🌊

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

The first book in the Coral Bay series, What We Could Be, is a heartfelt story. Lily Baines has perfectly balanced romance, friendship, tension, a bit of drama, and spice to create a story that takes readers on a journey of opening your heart to something that’s been right in front of you for sometime. Balancing the present day story with the past creates a beautiful harmony of how our MCs came to be. They have a past and a present, but unsure about what the future holds for them.

Loving someone so much that you will take them however you can get, despite the heartache it may put you through is who Sebastian is in this story. Having strong feelings for his friend Ruby, he wants more than friends with benefits, but this is the only way he can have her right now. It is evident how much he cares for her. So of course he takes the opportunity to stay with her in her coastal inn when renovations are needed. He won’t push Ruby, but he will show her exactly what he can offer.

Ruby has drawn a clear line in the sand; no feelings, no strings. Keeping her heart locked away keeps her safe and unharmed. Friends with benefits is the way to go, especially with Sebastian. However, when a situation occurs that has Sebastian around her day and night, she realizes her defenses are being worn down. Her carefully guarded heart is softening for her friend who cares for her, no strings attached. I actually really enjoyed reading about her fighting her feelings for Sebastian already knowing she was going to lose that battle.

Lily writes an amazing story, with characters who are layered and complex. The relationship between Sebastian and Ruby was dripping with heart and emotion. The interactions between them were always simmering, the fuse ready to ignite at any moment. At moments I was afraid that Ruby was going to allow the best thing to ever happen to her to get away. I anticipate that Lily will become a return author for me as I loved this book and am excited for the next one coming out later this year.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🌊Friends with Benefits
💞He Falls First
🌊Small Town Romance
💞She has Rules
🌊Coastal Romance

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian and Ruby

Tropes:
* Small town
* Forced proximity
* Friends with benefits to more
* Protective MMC
* Golden retriever MMC
* Angsty FMC

Be warned, this has angst in the form of an emotionally abusive mother towards her daughter.

Ruby has a warped view of relationships after her parents divorced, and is reluctant to enter into one.
Sebastian, her childhood friend and long-term FWB has come ‘home’ and realised he wants more.

There is a lot of internal thoughts about wants and needs, but not a huge amount of communication between them.
Add in angst with interfering parents… her mum is constantly dragging her down. His dad is telling him to let her go and date his friends daughter.
This leads to a pretty heartbreaking scene where Ruby ‘confirms’ why she shouldn’t have a relationship and making a pretty spontaneous decision.
I’ll honestly say that I didn’t like Sebastian at that moment. Knowing that he wanted Ruby, why would you even entertain spending time with the woman your father is setting you up with!!??? Seriously… a-z move right there…

There was an epic split, and I was torn. Ruby ‘pushed him away’, but he was also ready to walk. I’m of the mentality that if you’re trying to prove that you’ll stay, abandoning them is kind of the wrong way to go. Especially, when she keeps seeing you with other women…

I did like her group of friends… supportive, yet not afraid to give the hard truths.

A bit of a heartbreaking read. I do wish there was a confrontation with her mum, but overall, a good story with more of a HFN.

[Carrie Behm · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I could have told her right then that math was easy, but she was a variable I couldn’t solve.“

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’d been trying to leave her mark, carve herself into my skin, claim me….And when she finally collapsed on my chest, sweaty and wild and spent, I knew—this was Ruby, trying to get something out of her system. Probably me. I didn’t know why. It didn’t matter. I fell asleep with her hair fanned across my chest, not knowing she’d be gone by morning.”

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Whooo boy this book about did me in. Ruby runs a small sea side and Sebastian is a NASA engineer. When he came home to see family he found out she was doing Reno on her inn and he didn’t trust her contractors and promptly took over the restorations.

They were long time friends and then friends with benefits. Ruby didn’t trust anyone not to leave. She had been told all her life that she was too much, too loud, too mouthy, that she was the reason everyone left her. 😭 Sebastian loved her but wanted her to feel safe, so he didn’t fight his feelings.. until he couldn’t anymore. He fell first and hard and boy was the tension high. When she started having feelings they came first as sensual urgency, then jealous/posessive, then she had to fight herself to find her true feelings for him. 😮‍💨😮‍💨

✨❤️ It was steamy and fast and complicated and everything you want in a friends to lovers situation. Def recommend if you like 💜Long Time Friends with Benefits
​🌊Forced proximity 🌊He falls first 💜Her rule: No Feelings 🌊Secret tattoo 💜Small beach town 💜Both are 35 years old